Why Kiosks In Malls (Shop In Shop) May Need Separate Registrations

Kiosks in malls or shops in shop operate in a seemingly win-win situation - lower rentals than full fledged outlets and a general impression that there is no requirement for separate registrations under applicable labour laws including the Shops and Establishment ("S&E") Acts.

The S&E legislation, unlike other Indian labour laws, is formulated as state specific acts and hence requires multiple registrations for every location. In addition, it applies irrespective of the number of employees in the shops/establishment and the wages drawn.

It is generally assumed that since malls have their own S&E registrations, there is no requirement for to obtain separate S&E registration for operating from kiosks out of malls.

However, such an assumption may be incorrect as elaborated below

Provisions of Law

* S&E Acts broadly apply to 'Shops' and Commercial Establishments. * 'Shops' are generally construed to mean any premises where any trade or business is carried on/goods are sold (either by retail or wholesale) or where any services are rendered to customers and includes offices, etc 'whether in the same premises or otherwise' mainly used in connection with such trade or business. * Commercial Establishments refer to any premises where any trade, business or profession or work in connection with or ancillary or incidental thereto is carried on. * The duty to register as per the S&E Act is imposed on the Employer of the Establishment (an Establishment includes Commercial Establishments and Shops). * Employer refers to a person owning or having ultimate control over the affairs of an Establishment and where the Establishment is not managed by the owner it means the manager, agent or representative of such. * Employee refers to a person wholly or principally employed, whether directly or through an agency and whether for wages or for other consideration in or connection with any Establishment.

Judicial Precedent

Justice Shah in State of Bombay V. Jamnadas Gordhandas., (1956)II LLJ 307 has inter alia observed:

There is nothing in the Act which suggests that one premises can contain only one shop or that one shop can have only one premise. It is not the unity of premises which makes a shop, it is the unity of trade or business establishment which distinguishes one shop from another. Several different establishments belonging to different owners or under distinct managements but carrying on trade or business in one premises are not un-known and it cannot be suggested that such independent establishments would for the purposes of the Bombay Shops and Establishments Act be regarded as a single shop. Again a single business establishment may occupy distinct and independent structures constructed or adapted for separate activities of the establishment such as executive management, accounts, consultations, preparation and manufacture of goods, and for sale of goods and rendering of services. Independent structures in which different activities are carried on may make them distinct premises but would not make them separately registrable as a shop. In each case it would be a question of fact whether the office is a part of the shop in which goods are sold or services are rendered or whether the office is a distinct shop.'

The above observation may have been made well before the advent of Malls in India, however the same may be applicable even to Malls.

Issues to be factored by KioskCo

In view of the above comments as well as legal provisions discussed above the following issues are relevant to determine whether a kiosk needs to separately apply for S&E registration:

Kiosk Company (KioskCo) as Employer

A kiosk manned by a KioskCo employee may be construed to be a distinct and separate shop/establishment in a Mall especially if KioskCo has ultimate control over the affairs of that particular kiosk/establishment and is therefore the 'Employer'. While whether KioskCo or Mall has 'ultimate control' may be debated, generally KioskCo will have substantial control over the employees deputed, their work hours, the products sold/services provided at these kiosks.

Further if the question ever arises (during an inspection by the S&E department) each of these employees will also identify himself/herself as a KioskCo employee and not a Mall employee.

Mall as Employer

If the Agreements between the Mall and KioskCo executed do not permit KioskCo to be in 'ultimate control' over the affairs of the establishment/kiosk, then Mall may be construed to be 'Employer'.

However, it is unlikely that either the Mall or KioskCo will want to indicate KioskCo employees as Mall employees. Forms for registration and forms to be submitted notifying change require submission of details of employees. KioskCo employees would not have been covered within the Mall's application. Statutory register concerning employees and leaves obtained, etc. maintained by the Mall will, obviously, not contain details of KioskCo employees.

Further, the question needs to be addressed from the view point that S&E Acts are beneficial Acts oriented to granting certain rights to employees. If KioskCo employees are not covered by either an S&E registration/compliances applicable to KioskCo or Mall registration/compliances, it may tantamount to depriving the KioskCo employees of their entitlement prescribed under the S&E Acts.

While it may be argued that Mall is the Employer, including for reason of common cashiering for KioskCo's products/services, the failure to cover KioskCo employees under Mall's registration may unravel such an argument to KioskCo's disadvantage.

From the above it appears that there may be a requirement for KioskCo to apply for and obtain registration and comply with the other statutory requirements.

Compliances for KioskCo:

In practice shops in shop in India do not obtain separate registrations from the main shop - arising from the fact that it is onerous for KioskCo to obtain registration for each of its kiosks and also ensure compliances under the S&E Acts when mere one or two employees of KioskCo are be deputed to a Mall.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of records and registers to be maintained (which may also need to be displayed at the shop/establishment) and compliances to be made for four states:

1. Delhi:

(a) Providing advance intimation to the concerned authority in case overtime is proposed for employees. (b) Maintaining records in the prescribed form including -

* A notice of close day * Record of hours worked, the amount of leave taken by employees, intervals allowed for rest and meals, particulars of overtime etc * Notice of hours in a week which an employee may work * Register of employment and remuneration

2. Maharashtra

(a) Applying for registration (b) Applying for timely renewal of registration (c) Notifying changes in the information submitted in the application for registration, as applicable (c) Providing advance intimation to the concerned authority in case overtime is proposed for employees. (d) Maintaining records in the prescribed form including -

* Register concerning refusal of leave * Record of opening and closing hours, rest intervals, particulars of overtime etc of each employee * Register of leave and also provide to each employee a 'leave book' * Visit book concerning visits of S&E Inspectors

3. Karnataka:

(a) Applying for registration (b) Applying for timely renewal of registration (c) Notifying changes in the information submitted in the application for registration, as applicable (d) Maintaining records in the prescribed form including -

* Leave with Wages Register * Provide to each employee a 'leave with wages book' * Close day notice * Visit book concerning visits of S&E Inspectors

4. Madhya Pradesh:

(a) Applying for registration (b) Applying for timely renewal of registration (c) Notifying changes in the information submitted in the application for registration, as applicable (d) Notifying the weekly off/close day to the concerned authority and any change therein (e) Notifying the change in dates, if any, for additional overtime which are prescribed in the Act (f) Providing advance intimation to the concerned authority in case overtime is proposed for employees. (g) Maintaining records in the prescribed form including -

* Record of attendance, wages, overtime work, fine and deductions from wages * Record of daily hours to be worked, intervals allowed for rest and meals, * Register of leave * List of holidays * Copy of leave rules * Extracts of S&E Act and Rules in specified language

Consequences for KioskCo:

KioskCos exposure arising from lack of registration is in the form of fines and penalties (usually nominal) imposed by the S&E Acts for contravention of provisions. Below is a broad outline of the consequence of contravention of the S&E Acts:

1. Delhi:

The penalties prescribed for contravention generally range between Rs. 25 and Rs. 250. However, for non-maintenance of prescribed records Rs. 5 for every day of default may be payable. Further, false entries in records and registers makes the person liable to imprisonment of less than 3 months or fine of Rs. 250 or both.

2. Mumbai:

The penalties prescribed for contravention generally range between Rs. 1000 and Rs. 5000. In certain cases additional fine of Rs. 100/- per day may be applicable. Additionally 'enhanced penalty' is prescribed for second, third and subsequent offences which may extend up to Rs. 15,000/- fine as an aggregate for employer and the manager.

3. Karnataka:

The penalties prescribed for contravention generally range between Rs. 250 and Rs. 2000.

4. Madhya Pradesh:

The penalties prescribed for contravention generally range between Rs. 50 and Rs. 500. In certain cases additional fine of Rs. 50/- per day may be applicable. Additionally 'enhanced penalty' is prescribed for second, third and subsequent offences which may extend up to Rs. 1,500/-. Further, false entries in records and registers makes the person liable to imprisonment of less than 1 year or fine of Rs. 1000 or both.

Why Choose Vacation Home Rentals Over Hotels?

When you take a vacation, you probably want to get away with every day stressors both from work and at your house. Would it be nice to be somewhere you can freely lounge around without anyone bothering you? Being away can easily do that especially when you choose to take a break far away. However, with hotels being too pricey for your budget and the chaotic environment brought about by other vacationers do you think you can relax?

This is why vacation house rentals come in handy. Vacation rentals are furnished homes that can be rented out for a short period of time. Unlike hotels and motels that have a lot of limitations on their set of amenities, vacation rentals gives you a homey atmosphere with everything inside the house available for you to use as if you own the place.

Other benefits of staying in a vacation home are the following:

They are unique in a way that no two vacation houses are alike. Each home boasts of its own personality without the standard decors that a hotel has. You can conveniently search for vacation rentals by owner so that you can match the house with the personality of the one who lives on it. You have more privacy during your dream vacations. You never have to listen to other guests walking up and down the corridors, or have snotty hotel staff looking at you from afar. You also have more space to move around compared with that of a hotel room. It's easier to stay together when you are having a group vacation. Unlike hotels where you have to rely on the availability of rooms, vacation homes let you stay together as a group which multiplies the fun during dream vacations. You do not have to worry for pricey room service and expensive menus. With a vacation home, you can order take out and have it delivered right into your doorstep. Kinda the same with having room service yet more economical. Vacation homes are pretty much cheaper than a hotel room. It may seem to cost much at the start but considering the amenities and other perks that goes with it, you can definitely tell the big difference in price.

Today, there are more vacation homes that are being rented out for vacationers. You only have to look them up from vacation rental sites that offers match up services for you to have a vacation house that will make you feel at ease. You can even do a search on your own and have searched for vacation rentals by owner, by location, price, and other parameters to your liking.

You do not have to worry about being unhappy with a vacation home. All you need to do is to look for a vacation home that follows the standards of the Vacation Room Managers Association so that you can be rest assured that your chosen vacation home is safe, secure, well- maintained, clean, and most of all, very accommodating.

Parrot Cage and Toys

Toys and a Cage For Your Parrot

This for people who wish to cage their parrot; I don't believe in caging my parrots for humanitarian reasons. If you decide in caging your parrot, here are the best tips I can offer you.

Housing your parrot is a very important factor; it is the difference to between a healthy parrot with normal behavior and a parrot with behavioral problems. You really need to keep in mind the life expectancy of your parrot. Parrots have the ability to live beyond 20 years of age. That is why it is important to create a happy, healthy and fun home for your parrot.

Your cage should be considered carefully. You must allow enough space for exercise, entertainment and self-expression for your parrot. Remember it will be in a cage for a large part of the day while you are out. Buy a cage that fits into your home. If you want to buy a macaw, ask yourself, "Do I have room for that large of a cage," if the answer is "No," then it is probably not a good idea and to rethink as to what kind of parrot will fit best in your home. Get a parrot that fits into your home in cage size, then a parrot that you have no room for. You will both benefit from this decision.

Dimensions of Your Cage

Get a parrot cage that offers a comfortable and safe environment for you and your parrot making sure it is suitable for your home. At minimum; the dimensions of the parrot cage need to be considered, from the bottom of the cage to the top of the cage. The size of the cage should be twice the size for your parrot to fully expand its wings and one and half in length for room for its tail.

Bar Spacing on the Cage

The cage spacing is critical as it could be a difference between an injured parrot and a healthy parrot. It should be narrow enough so it cannot get its head through. The bars should both be vertical and horizontal so they have both bar spacing to climb around on. If you cannot find a cage with both bar spacing, get a cage with vertical bars; as it is easier for them to navigate on. The thickness of the bars is very important to keep in mind. Parrots have very powerful beaks. It is usually recommended that you get a wrought iron or stainless steel cage. Though they are costly, you will benefit and be grateful in the long run.

Design of the Cage and Perches

It is best to get a rectangular cage, as it fits best in your home, it may take up a little more room but there is more room for your parrot to hop from perch to perch and play. Tall cages are impractical as parrots do not fly up and down. Round cages lead to a situation of constant cleaning because the droppings will fall on the lower perches and into their food and water bowls. Also a round cage is ineffective because your parrot can only climb the bars and move from only one perch comfortably.

The perches should be made of hard wood like Manzanita or Iron Wood. I prefer Manzanita as it is easy to clean and it is difficult for your parrot to chew through. Getting a softer wood is costly and you have to replace them more often. Sand paper covered perches is not recommended because they can lead to serious foot irritation, sores and deep infections. Get different widths as it will be comfortable for gripping on their feet and it will give your parrot more of a chance to exercise.

Dishes for Your Parrot

Dishes are very important as it is what they will be eating out of and drinking water from. Get the dish for the size of the parrot, a cockatiel isn't going to eat out of a macaw dish and a macaw isn't going to eat out of a cockatiels' dish. Get dishes that are easy to clean and to disinfect. The positioning of the dish is very important put it where your parrot likes to eat and drink. I do not recommend putting them near the bottom of the cage or on the bottom of the cage; you will find you will be cleaning them constantly. Put them in the middle near a perch. Get dishes that attach to the cage. They will be thrown. Amazons in particular are renowned for throwing. If your cage does not have holders for the dishes, there are metal holders that can be attached to the cage.

Parrot Toys

There are no quality controls on toys for your parrots. Therefore you have to check the safety of the toys yourself. Parrots like bells, hanging toys, wood and rope. Rope toys you have to watch carefully, as they can get entangled in their feet when the rope tethers. If it tethers just trim it with scissors. Make sure the parrot toys you get do not have small parts that will come off, as they can be swallowed. Like a child's toy, just make sure it is safe for your parrot to play with. Experiment with toys and see what they like to play with. Get enough toys so you can rotate them so your parrot won't get bored.

A parrot cage should be fun and safe. Keeping this all in mind will lead to a healthy and happy life for your parrot. The expense will pay off in the long run as your parrot may out live you. It is not just housing your parrot; it is making them feel like it is a fun and a safe room to be in. Remember this is their room in your house as it is just like your bed room is for you.

Spanish Food - How To Prepare Boquerones

Whilst on your travels in Spain and pausing to take a breath from site-seeing, you have surely experimented with "tapas" at a welcoming bar.

If this is the case, it is more than likely that you have come across the small, tasty filleted fish, preserved in olive oil, sliced garlic and chopped parsley, and highly popular throughout Spain. This delectable dish is usually known as "boquerones" but, depending on the area, can also be called "anchoas".

Boquerones are small, fresh anchovies. Accompanied by crisp, fresh Spanish bread, a glass of ruby-red wine or refreshing Asturian cider, they are a delight to eat. Moreover - as with many traditional Spanish dishes which comprise the renowned Mediterranean Diet - they are extremely healthy.

Like its friend the sardine, the anchovy is an oily fish, packed full of proteins and minerals, protecting against heart disease, and "good" for cholesterol. What´s more, in many areas of Spain -in particular the Mediterranean coast - fresh anchovies are extremely cheap.

On first coming to Spain, I happily enjoyed many tapas of boquerones, completely unaware of one fact ... all those little anchovies I had eaten were not cooked! For a moment, I deeply regretted asking my Spanish neighbor, Carmen, how to make them!

Fortunately, Carmen went into immediate action and saved the day! She frog-marched me to the local fishmongers, bought a kilo of the little fish, took me home and showed me "her way" of preparing them. They were so delicious that I quickly recovered my passion for boquerones and have been enjoying them ever since!

Methods for preparing boquerones tend to vary slightly from family to family. However, the basic principles are always the same. You first have to clean and fillet the fish, which is simple enough, but rather tedious until you get the hang of it.

Next, you soak the fillets, either in white wine vinegar or a mixture of half vinegar and half water. The vinegar will clean and bleach the fish and also soften any remaining little bones. Some people sprinkle the fish with salt; others (myself included) feel that the fish is salty enough already.

The fish has to be left for a good few hours soaking in the vinegar. Again, this tends to vary, with some Spaniards leaving them overnight in the fridge and others just waiting a couple of hours. Also, some families change the vinegar/water-and-vinegar mixture once during this process, whilst others don´t bother.

Once you have thrown away the vinegar, the bleached fillets are covered with a good quality virgin olive oil, which will preserve them. You can add as much, or as little, sliced garlic as you wish, plus freshly chopped parsley.

So ... here is the actual recipe.

BOQUERONES

Ingrediants: - 1 kilo fresh anchovies. - White wine vinegar. - Virgin olive oil. - Garlic. - Parsley. - Salt (optional).

Method:

1. Top and tail anchovies.

2. Slit along underside and discard innards.

3. Open out fish.

4. Remove central bone by lifting from tail end upwards.

5. Rinse well.

6. Place a layer of anchovy fillets in a shallow dish.

7. Sprinkle with salt (optional) and pour on plenty of vinegar.

8. Repeat with another layer, changing direction.

9. Leave to soak in vinegar for a few hours or overnight.

10. Pour off vinegar.

11. Very gently rinse fillets.

12. Cover fillets in virgin olive oil.

13. Add slices of garlic and chopped parsley.

It is so pleasant to find something in life that is a delight to the senses, affordable, healthy and does nobody any harm (apologies to any vegetarians out there and, also, the little anchovies ...). So ... do make the most of fresh anchovies whilst you are in Spain and enjoy!

What Are Acrylic Paints - 10 Things You Must Know Before You Start

Acrylic paints are one of the most popular medias in our days. They are very convenient, easy and cheap therefore are a perfect medium for beginners. Today, also professional artists use this media due to the various ways to use them.

Acrylic Paint Features

Acrylic paints are water based therefore they dry quickly and can be dried with a hairdryer if needed. In case you don't want the paint to dry so fast you can dilute them with water, or with any other acrylic medium to slow the drying process for longer blending abilities. You can clean acrylic paint brushes, hands, and other equipment with water and soap. Make sure your brushes stay moist while you are painting or they will dry with the paint on them and you won't be able to use them again. Acrylic paints are Époque that means they can look thick like oil paints. When you dilute them with water the paintings can look like watercolors depending on the amount of water diluted. The colors are permanent, not transparent, so you can paint in layers and the previous color won't see through. The paints are flexible and will not develop cracks like oil paints. Acrylics can be painted on a variety of surfaces that's why many artists and craftsmen use these paints. Canvas is the most popular surface for acrylic paintings but you can apply them on to wood, fabric, ceramic, plastic, cardboard paper, metal, leather, dolls, stones, panels, models for trains, cars and houses. In some cases the surface needs to be sealed with an appropriate sealer for acrylic paints You can create different textures with acrylic paints by adding gel, molding paste, sand, rice and more. Acrylic paints are permanent and don't come off from fabric so be aware of what you are wearing. I recommend you wear painting clothing or a good apron and cover your sleeves too. If you get a stain on your clothes remove it immediately before it dries with water and soap. Paintbrushes, rollers, painting knives are all good to use when you are painting with acrylics. Some artists use different artistic ways to get different textures - like painting with their own fingers. Once the painting is dry and finished it tends to attract dust and dirt therefore you should apply a thin layer of varnish. Varnishes come in three different finishes - satin, matte and gloss. I must mention that many artists don't use varnish on their paintings because it can damage the paint or yellow the painting overtime. So make sure you choose a good brand and you know what you are doing.

These are the 10 basic things you must know before you start, there is a lot more to learn about. Take your time and enjoy discovering this medium, its fun and relaxing.

Inspiration for the Fired Soul

You're Fired! is a book that tackles the real story's behind these two little words that pack so much punch.

This is an eBook that gets people motivated and inspired to take a different approach to being fired. I encourage you to open up about your own experiences. With new story's from the readers, this book will have no end.

Take a look for yourself: [http://www.yourefiredbooks.com]

Tristan Becker has re-invented the term "You're Fired!" with motivational words of wisdom and a new outlook on the old term that has impacted so many lives in so many ways. The web site that promotes and distributes the Ebook, takes the reader into consideration in many ways. Getting the readers involved is the main focus of the book as well as the site. Each month will offer a new opportunity for the readers to WIN a day of pampering at the SPA, or one of many other promotions to warm the sences and rejuvenate the soul. Everyone deservers to be pampered, and each month the first One Hundred customers to buy a copy of " You're Fired!" will have the opportunity to do just that.

You can purchase this eBook through the web site, and tell your own story if you have one to share. More and more people are being fired in today's world; some much so, that the topic is no longer taboo.

The author has a twist of humour that is refreshingly obvious throughout the book, which makes the reader feel at ease and allows for a much better reading experience.

Visit and enjoy.

Raising Capital For Your Business - How Long Does it Take?

Most companies vastly underestimate the time commitment necessary to successfully complete a financing. In actuality, a company seeking financing needs to budget between 500 to 1000 work-hours to the capital-raising process, spread out over a 6-9 month time period.

The key processes in the capital-raising process include 1) perfecting the business plan, offering memorandum, and other company due diligence materials, 2) developing a comprehensive, targeted prospective investor list, 3) contacting this list and responding to investor due diligence requests, and 4) negotiating the transaction.

Completing the business plan typically requires at least 200 hours of work. This time is dedicated to conducting the market research to validate the opportunity, developing a comprehensive financial model, determining the most effective way to lay out the business strategy, and actually writing and proofing the business plan.

The next step, developing a comprehensive, targeted prospective investor list is also very time consuming. There are thousands of potential investors, each of which has very different tastes regarding the types of ventures that interest them. Some invest by market sector (e.g., healthcare vs. telecommunications), stage (seed stage vs. later stage), geography, or a combination of these. Many hours must be dedicated to determine which investors are the right fit for your venture. This process involves creating a master investor list, visiting each investor's website to view investment criteria and past investments, and determining who is the right contact at the firm.

To see how easily the time adds up, consider that only about 25% of prospective investors who show an initial interest in a transaction actually progress to detailed company due diligence. Only about 10% of this 25% actually progress to a bonafide offer of funds, of which only 25% of these actually result in an investment transaction. So completing a financing transaction requires, on average, contacting approximately 160 pre-qualified prospective investors.

The due diligence process, where investors scrutinize the investment, can also be very time consuming for the company. Investors often request many documents, some of which can be easily retrieved from files (e.g., prior tax returns), while others may take more time to prepare (e.g., additional market analysis, customer lists with past purchases, contact information, etc.). Finally, negotiating a transaction can take a significant amount of time depending upon the complexity of the transaction and number of parties involved.

Too many companies fail to raise capital since they are unaware of the significant time requirements to do so. Those firms who understand these requirements and budget accordingly are the ones most likely to persevere and end up with the capital they need.

7 Strategies for Sustained Innovation

The need for constant reinvention is a given in today's business environment. And while a breakthrough product or concept can catapult an organization ahead of its competitors, in these fast-paced times, that advantage is often short-lived.

While major product or service breakthroughs make headlines, it's the steady incremental innovations made by employees every day that give an organization the sustained growth it needs.

Sustained innovation comes from developing a collective sense of purpose; from unleashing the creativity of people throughout your organization and from teaching them how to recognize unconventional opportunities.

As innovative ideas surface, a clear sense of mission empowers front-line employees to act on new ideas that further your company's purpose.

It Starts at the Top

Leaders create the psychological environment that fosters sustained innovation at all levels. The challenge is that as an organization grows, management structures and bureaucracies, designed to channel growth, tend to create barriers to small-scale enhancements.

While there are exceptions, in larger organizations employees tend to feel removed from the function of innovation and are less likely to take independent action or offer revolutionary ideas.

The commitment to establishing the right psychological conditions for innovation needs to start at the top. This means that, as a leader, you need to consider your own assumptions about innovation and their role in creating and changing your organization's culture.

You need to appreciate the value of incremental as well as major innovations, understand the psychology of innovation and take the lead in promoting an innovative culture. Otherwise, it's just not going to happen.

While your organization's innovative capability depends on multiple factors, there are several steps you can take to create the psychological conditions that favor inventive thinking, regardless of your industry or the size of your organization.

Establish A Clear Sense of Direction

Changing cultures involves changing minds, and that takes time. But as with any initiative, a clear sense of the target helps to speed the journey.

Your organization's mission helps to organize and direct the creativity of its people. What is the purpose of consistent innovation in your enterprise? Is it to add customer value to existing products and services...to speed delivery...to increase on-time arrivals?

Having a clearly articulated message allows everyone to focus on innovation where it can deliver the greatest value. Innovation, as Peter Drucker has defined it, means creating a new dimension of performance. A sense of mission clarifies the direction of performance and helps determine which new ideas to focus on.

Open Communication

Open communication between management and employees sets the stage for an atmosphere of trust. But if you want to establish a new, more trusting culture, you can't expect employees to take the first step.

Company leadership initiates the process of open communication by sharing information with employees on a regular basis. This includes good news and bad.

Southwest Airlines policy of sharing information enabled the company to weather the sudden increase in fuel costs during the 1990-91 Gulf War. The company kept everyone informed as fuel prices soared. Southwest's CEO Herb Kelleher sent a memo to pilots asking for their help. Through inventive thinking, the pilots found ways to rapidly drop fuel consumption without compromising safety or service.

Leaders of organizations that sustain innovation offer multiple opportunities for communication.

While not every company can offer an open-door policy for its senior executives, or even a chance for regular face-to-face contact, every organization can institute programs that enable front-line workers to feel heard. From CEO lunches with cross-sections of employees, to monthly division meetings between employees and the general manager, to open intranet forums for idea sharing and feedback, leaders can communicate their openness to hearing innovative ideas from those who are closest to the customer.

Reduce bureaucracy

While larger organizations are often considered less entrepreneurial and inventive than their smaller counterparts, it's not the size of your company that inhibits innovation -- it's the systems. Bureaucracy slows down action and is a serious impediment to innovation.

Smaller organizations can often move faster on implementing innovative ideas because they have less bureaucracy. When Jack Welch was reengineering General Electric he said, "My goal is to get the small company's soul and small company's speed inside our big company."

Faster implementation encourages further inventive thinking. Think for a minute. If you had an idea for an innovation, and it required 6 weeks to clear channels and another 3 weeks to get funding, would you have lost any impetus for further contribution?

Instill A Sense of Ownership

An ownership mentality creates a powerful incentive for inventive thinking. When an individual is clearly aware of how his or her interests are aligned with those of the company, he or she has a strong reason to "go the extra mile" to further the mission.

Stock ownership is a significant, if not essential, incentive for employees. However on its own, profit-sharing doesn't guarantee your employees will think like owners.

When employees don't see how their individual efforts affect company profitability, they tend to be passive and reactive. To encourage greater involvement, make sure each employee knows how his or her work affects company performance.

Southwest gave pilots the freedom to design and implement a plan to reduce fuel consumption because they were in the best position to determine what would be effective. Pilots pitched in enthusiastically because they understood the impact their actions had on the bottom-line and ultimately, on their own futures.

Make Sure Recognition and Rewards are Consistent

While financial rewards are often tied to innovations, rewarding only the individual or team responsible for the "big idea" or its implementation, sets up a subtle competitive atmosphere that discourages the smaller, less dramatic improvements.

Even team-based compensation can be counterproductive if teams are set up to compete with each other for rewards. These incentives discourage the cross functional collaboration so critical to maximal performance.

Companies that successfully foster an innovation culture design rewards that reinforce the culture they want to establish. If your organization values integrated solutions, you cannot compensate team leaders based on unit performance. If your company values development of new leaders, you cannot base rewards on short-term performance.

A Tolerance for Risk and Failure

Tolerating a certain degree of failure as a necessary part of growth is an important part of encouraging innovation. Innovation is a risk. Employees won't take risks unless they understand goals clearly, have a clear but flexible framework in which to operate and understand that failures are recognized as simply steps in the learning process.

Toyota's Production System transfers quality management and innovation authority to front-line plant workers. Workers are able to make adjustments in their work if they see an opportunity for improvement. If the innovation works, it's incorporated into operations, if not, it's chalked up to experience.

A major psychological benefit of Toyota's method is the development of trust. Employees who trust their bosses are more likely to take intelligent risks that have potential benefit for the company.

Eliminate Projects and Processes that Don't Work

As your organization innovates you need to practice what Peter Drucker calls "creative abandonment." Projects and processes that no longer contribute should be abandoned to make room for new, progressive activities.

While no organization wants to squander financial resources on unprofitable activities, it is actually the irreplaceable resource of time and employee energy that is wasted if a company holds on to the old way of doing things.

Innovation requires optimism. It's about an attitude of continually reaching for higher performance. You can't expect employees to maintain an optimistic attitude if they feel compelled to continue in activities that are going nowhere.

© 2007 Dr. Robert Karlsberg & Dr. Jane Adler

How This Simple Target Market Analysis Trick Will Attract More Readers to Your Blog

The Target Market Analysis Trick for Beginning Bloggers to Attract Readers

If you've been blogging for awhile now with zero results, minimal subscribers and hardly any social shares for your content then you're not alone.

Doing a target market analysis is one of the most crucial steps a beginning blogger can do in order to get the ball rolling as fast as possible but so few people take the time to do it, it's actually quite tragic.

As a result, not only do some people blog for ages and get nothing in return but useless spam, a headache and a declining motivational meter, more often than not these bloggers simply give up and go back to doing a job because it's easier.

Now that just sucks.

So if you're just starting out, and you're frustrated and tired of not seeing any results, I'd bet it's because you have no idea who you are, or should be, talking to.

So by the end of this post you should know exactly how to do a target market analysis, and what you need to do in order to not only improve the quality of your blog content, but get more shares, interaction and traffic to your blog.

Why it's So Important to Do a Target Market Analysis

Did you know that by doing a simple target market analysis, you will be sparing yourself the most common problem that beginning bloggers are facing?

And that's coming up with content to write about.

So how do you do a target market analysis and how will that help you?

When you focus on creating your content for a specific person, your content will not only resonate and arouse an emotional response within them, but it will move them into responding in the form of sharing your content, leaving a comment, or even buying your product.

Doing a target analysis isn't that hard. Just ask yourself the following questions about a specific niche that you want to market to and you've got it down:

• What are their problems? • How can I solve their problem? • What are some common questions that they may have? • What do they want? • Would this interest them?

For example, let's talk about the health and wellness industry. You would most probably be thinking, "But my niche is health and wellness", but that's not specific enough. You're spreading yourself too thin here.

If you really think about it, it's a very broad category that encompasses a lot of smaller niches within itself.

You've got weight loss people, trainers, gym owners, vegetarians, runners, body builders...

Your content will not cause a direct emotional response within any of these people because if it is not aimed at any of them specifically. Sure it might hit the relevance button a little here and there, but more likely than not the response will be "Oh that's interesting... next!" As opposed to, "Man that was exactly what I was looking for!"

Target Market Analysis and Content Creation

What's helpful to body builders may not necessarily be helpful to weight loss people, gym owners, or vegetarians.

So it's important to understand your target market's language, their thought processes, their problems and how to solve those problems. You must get into their mind!

And the only way to do that is to do a proper target market analysis.

That is the only way you will get a lot of response for your content and create a rush of targeted traffic to your blog.

Once you identify your target market, the content creation process is easier in that you don't have to cater for a massive crowd!

Put yourself in your perfect prospects shoes and ask yourself the bullet points I outlined earlier. You can also attend webinars and trainings that are relevant to your niche and use the information in there to create content, or a simple Google, or keyword research will give you the answer more often than not.

So take the time to sit down, get a pen and paper of open up a notepad on your computer, and do a simple target market analysis.

Here is what you need to do again once you've chosen a specific target market:

• Find their problem and solve it • What do they want and why? • Some common questions that they may have • Would my content be of any interest to them?

So get cracking and get started on your target market analysis ASAP if you want to finally start building a thriving blog.

21 Reasons Why Your Church Needs a Website

The world has become technologically advanced and it is not slowing down. When people seek information they tend to use the internet, not the yellow pages. So, if an organization, including a church, wants to be noticed by people and want people to have easy access to it, then a website is an effective way to do it. Small businesses have websites and this is a tool they use to get customers and grow their business. Churches, no matter the size, can also use the internet as a tool to grow in membership.

Here are 21 reasons your church needs a website.

Churches lose members each year for varied reasons including relocation, death, etc. If members are lost and none are gained, then church membership will diminish. A website can be used as a strategy to find new members. In a way, it's like advertising your church. The internet is a far less expensive means of advertising a church than other media. It's effective advertising as it is visible and budget-friendly. Websites will allow people to learn more about you. When people are searching for a church to attend and they use a search engine, your website will appear and they can use it as a brochure of sorts to see what you are all about. They will have access to all relevant information such as your location, mission, vision statements, pictures of community outreach events, etc. Websites are convenient for the public due to ease of use and information being readily available. By offering convenience and a point of reference, your church can ultimately add value to your members' experience and a greater level of satisfaction. Even when church is not in service, people should be able to access its ministry. A website allows for members to stay "plugged in" during the week. If I miss church one Sunday, I miss important announcements and updates. A website can help to communicate weekly bulletins to regular attendees. A website can keep members in contact with one another for prayer and encouragement even during the week. Being able to interact on a regular basis helps build unity. A website allows for making brief comments on current issues. A church can distribute its message online without having to pay for producing DVDs and CDs and visitors to the site can download sermons instead of having to purchase them. Storing church sermons online is a good way to increase the permanence and reach of sermons. It can be utilized as a public place to keep valuable resources such as your constitution, newsletters and membership policies. A website is a great way to provide visitors to other useful web resources with link building, etc. Some people think of technology as progress and so your website will place your church in a category of being progressive. According to the School Library Journal, about 21 million teens use the Internet and half of them say they go online every day. A website offers the opportunity of reaching out to the younger generation who tend to represent a majority of internet users. Before people decide on what church to attend, there are basic questions they need answered first such as the type of music, denomination and the bible version used. A church website can answer all these questions and more. A website can act as a church's testimony. The internet is far-reaching and so a church can use it to broadcast their message globally. The internet is used by people to pay bills, invest their money and conduct personal banking. It can, in the same way, increase the church's income as people would be able to make donations with the click of a button. It offers an unobtrusive way of delivering information to the public. With a website, church-goers can quickly and easily give feedback about church services and events.

Having a web presence is not only beneficial to the church but to its members as well. Creating a well-built, custom website will enable your church to increase its membership and spirituality.

What to Do When Your Workers Compensation Claim Is Denied

When a work place accident occurs, and you are not able to work, the last thing you want to do is have are financial concerns. Still, medical bills and lost salary accumulate very quickly, which is what workers compensation is there to address. While you're resting at the hospital or at home, this program is supposed to pay for any financial issue you may have, and cover things like bills and lost salary. But sometimes, you file your claim and it gets denied. Here's what to do when this happens.

When you file your workers compensation claim, your employer will come back to you with a written result. If the claim has been denied, there are several things you should do. First, see why it was denied. Sometimes, the paperwork was simply not filled properly. It's important to follow all the directions to the letter, and to include any relevant information. This can mean medical bills, receipts and diagnostics. Also, you need to be sure that the claims you file are for things that are truly covered. Workers compensation cover injuries or diseases caused by your job description, or tasks your boss asked of you. Nothing outside of work is covered, and you need to use your own personal insurance for this. If you think the paperwork is well done, you included everything, and the claim should be covered, then the next step is to file an appeal. The employer is forced to review the appeal, and to give you another decision.

Still, even with an appeal, they may also decide to deny that. Then, it's up to you to decide whether you want to push further. Many attorneys offer free consultations to find out whether or not your claim should be accepted, and if it's worth suing for it. If you decide to sue, then you will need to hire the attorney, and go in front of a workers compensation court. These courts are there to decide on these matters, and a judge will end up having the final say. That's pretty much the last step you can take for getting your benefits. In some cases, it may be well worth it. Medical bills, along with lost salary, add up quickly. It can easily be thousands of dollars, in which case it may well be worth going all the way to the end. Knowing your rights and possibilities is crucial in this case, because you don't want to spend needlessly.

It's never a good situation to find yourself in, especially if you also have to worry about your health. The last thing you want is to worry about your financial well being as well. But in these cases, the burden of proof may be on you, especially if it's a difficult case, such as proving that some long term disease is caused because of something that you did at work. Still, if the law is on your side, you can get reparation in front of a judge, and these are typically cheaper than traditional courts, so it's something you may want to consider.

Maintaining A Healthy Diet While At Work

One of the problems that many of us face when we work for a living is the fact that it can be quite difficult to eat healthily through the day. As a matter of fact, we may find that we are simply grabbing something as quick as possible from vending machines or candy machines that may be at our place of business. Quite obviously, this is not going to result in our having the optimum health that we would desire and it can actually cause problems in the long run that are difficult to control. That being said, what are some of the things that you can do to ensure that you are eating as healthy as possible when you are stuck at work?

One of the more obvious points to eating healthy is the fact that you must be prepared in advance. If you are leaving everything to chance, it is likely that you are going to be hitting one of the candy machines in your office at sometime during the day. This can be disastrous for your waistline, as well as your overall health. If you plan in advance, on the other hand, and bring yourself some food that is healthier than what comes out of the vending machines at work, you will be in a better position. What are some of the options that are open to you?

Some people find that it is very beneficial to do all of their cooking on one or two days every week. If you cook on the weekend, it is often possible for you to cook enough that you will be good for the majority of the week. Having the food prepared in advance and even distributed in smaller Tupperware containers will make it easy for you to grab a pre-prepared lunch and take it with you in the morning. This will help you to avoid the fast food restaurants and the other unhealthy options that are available to you in the work environment.

Another thing that you are going to need in order to be successful with eating healthy is proper motivation. When you are first starting some type of a healthy eating regime, it can be very difficult to stick with it for the long run. As a matter of fact, it is often estimated that you have to go at least 21 days without a particular food or type of food before it becomes a habit. If you are able to stick with it for that long, you may just find that you are able to avoid it for the rest of your life.

One final thing that you should consider is the fact that being healthy is not just a matter of eating healthy. Exercise and getting plenty of rest are also going to play key parts in being healthy at work and in your home environment. Get outside and get some fresh air when possible and if all you can do is walk, by all means go for a walk. The more you spend time exercising, the less you will have a problem with your health.

Garbage in Its Place

There is nothing worse than seeing garbage blowing down the street of your neighborhood, or finding broken shards of glass at the local swimming hole where children play. Wildlife is just as vulnerable to garbage and many have lost their lives after becoming tangled in waste or mistaking garbage for food. It is up to each of us to make an effort to minimize this unsightly, and sometimes hazardous, problem.

Animals, wind and traffic breezes put legs to loose garbage and are able to distribute it great distances from the original source. The first thing that we can do to prevent this is to ensure trashcan and dumpster lids are secure. Metal and plastic trashcans are more preventative than bags - leaving a bag out over night or even for several hours, is an enticing invitation for stray animals to wreak havoc. When taking a load to the dump, be sure that it is securely covered by tightly tying a tarp over the load with some rope or bungee cords.

Carry plastic shopping bags on your walks to clean up litter that you find along the way. Often, people are rewarded for their efforts by the deposits returned from bottles and cans. Those who have noticed your efforts will begin taking up the same habit once they realize the impact it has.

Report any dumping you witness, whether it was done illegally or accidentally - just get the license number and leave the rest to the officials. Also, report any site where garbage has been left by others. These problems can be reported to the local city, highway, public works or conservation office. Ask them to arrange for it to be cleaned up.

By doing these relatively small actions, we prevent contamination and injuries to people or wildlife in the area. When separating recyclable items, we keep a valuable resource out of the landfill. In addition, we maintain a pristine environment for citizens, tourists and wildlife to enjoy. We can all take pride knowing that by keeping garbage in its place, we are making the world just a little better for everyone.

Why People Like Podcasts

Podcasts are one of those tools that learning content and information product marketers should at least consider. They produce targeted traffic. They produce high quality traffic. And they increase your credibility in the marketplace. What more could you ask for?

But why do people like podcasts?

It's obvious why learning content product marketers should like and use podcasts. But why does the audience? What makes them so popular with their audience?

In this article I'm going to examine five major reasons that your audience likes podcasts.

1. They're short and to the point

Let's face it. We're all busy today. And senior executives are usually even busier than you and I. The internet lifestyle? For most people it's sixteen hour days six days a week. And on the seventh they cut back to twelve. Or just plain collapse. Because podcasts are short they can be squeezed into available time. Driving to work? Listen to a podcast. Grocery shopping? Listen to a podcast while you're walking. Doing laundry? Listen to a podcast while you watch the laundry go round and round and... Sorry. Where was I? Oh, yes. Anywhere and anytime you have ten or fifteen minutes you can squeeze a podcast in.

2. They're flexible.

MP3 players are tiny. They go anywhere. Jogging. Commuting. Dining alone. But podcasts aren't just for MP3 players. Most podcasts are played on the computer while the audience is working on other things.

3. They're info bytes rather than detailed information.

Picture this for a second. You're a busy executive. Or a consultant. You need to keep your eye to the sky. You need to know what's appearing on the horizon. You don't need to know everything. You have experts for that. What you need is a little bit of everything. Just enough to know if you should ask those experts to investigate for you. Podcasts are too short to give detailed information. They're great at summarizing and hitting the key points for you.

4. They open up possibilities.

So why does the executive or busy consultant need to know the summary but not the details. Because they're looking for change. For innovations. For ideas that they can use to drive vectored change in their own organizations. After all, their job is to see the future and redesign their organizations (or their clients' organizations) to meet that future. Podcasts help them track what is happening on the edge of development.

5. They're personal.

Do you like to feel like you know your mentors and teachers? You do don't you? There's a reason I knew the answer. Almost everyone does. People connect with people they know. People like to know people they connect with. (Which isn't the same thing)? Podcasts are an audio product. Audio and video products are the most effective products at letting your audience get a glimpse of you as a person. They hear your passion. They feel your grief. They connect with you as a person.